Jake Needham

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Date of Birth:	30-09-1986
Birthplace:	Portsmouth
Batting Style:	Right-hand bat
Bowling Style:	Right-arm offbreak
First Class Span:	2005 -
List A Span:	2005 -
Twenty20 Span:
Other Teams:	England Under 19's

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 Profile:

Mike Hussey became Derbyshire's young off-spinner's inaugural first-class victim in 2005, although Needham went on to become more of a fixture in the one day side the following year than in four day cricket.

Needham broke into the Phantoms one-day outfit midway through 2006 in the dead rubber C & G Trophy game against Northamptonshire and was right at the heart of the action.

He was Derbyshire's best bowler that day, taking one for 33 from ten overs, but the game ended on a disappointing note as he was caught off the final ball of the match in a one run defeat.

He nevertheless went on to cement his place in the side for the NatWest Pro 40 campaign and although wickets didn't always tumble for him, coming away with an economy rate below five was an exceptional effort in such an explosive form of the game.

2006 also saw Needham gain a call-up to the England Under 19's side making him the first home-grown Derbyshire player to achieve this since John Morris.

First Team opportunities were difficult to come by early-on in the 2007 season. But when more opportunities came his way in the latter half of the campaign, Needham began to demonstrate an encouraging progression in his game.

After impressing with bat, ball and in the field as well as demonstrating a calm temperament in all situations, Needham ended the 2007 season looking ready to take on a more prominent role in the first team and still considered to be one of Derbyshire's brightest young prospects.

The more prominent role came to fruition in 2008 as Needham made 24 appearances in all competitions, including eight in first-class cricket.

The off-spinner's bowling analysis in the four day game made for impressive reading that year as his 19 wickets came at 26.47 apiece and included career-best figures of 6-49 in the final game of the season against Leicestershire.

Needham then made 12 first team appearances in all competition the following year, producing a match winning bowling spell of 4 for 21 against Yorkshire Carnegie in the Twenty20 Cup and playing a key role with 3 for 51 in the LV = County Championship victory over Gloucestershire.

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